Ironing machine



July 27 1926.

IRONING MACHINE Filed June 11. 1921 3 Shes-Set 1 I h A 3 1 N F:anwimilimmm ATTORNEY July 27 1926.

L. POTTER IRONING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1921 INVENTOR Z%:

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 27 ,1926, 1,593,

L. POTTER IRONING MACHINE Filed June 11. 1921 heets-She et 5 INVENTORATTORNEY Patented July 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES nno ro'rrnn, on NEW YORK, N. Y., nssrenon. 'ro LEO ror'rnnme, or new roan,

PATENT FFICE.

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF II'IEIW YORK.

IRONING' MACHINE.

Application filed. June 11, 1921. Seriallo. 476,687.

This invention relates to ironing machines tion showing the drivingconnections beand particularly to machines of the type tween the motorand the intermediate power havlng a pressing or feeding roller anda/transmitting shaft.

provide means for automatically moving the,

ironin elements of an ironing machine to operative position upon thestarting of the driving means for the machine.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide means forautomaticallyreleasing the operative ironing elements from ironing 'or feedingposition upon the cutting off of the driving means for the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ironing machine havinga rotating element supported in such a man-ner as to leave the ends ofthe element unobstructed.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an ironing machine havingmeans for feeding the material to be ironed intothe machine at the frontand for feeding the ifroned material out of the machine at the rent.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ironing machine withmeans for supporting and guiding overlapping ends of the material beingironed.

Another object of'the invention is to provide means in an ironingmachine for automatically and immediately moving the feeding elementaway from the ironing element upon the stopping of the feed of themateral between the elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the characterdescribed mounted in such a manner as to be folded into a cabinet.' g

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingspecification'taken in connection with the drawings which form a part ofthis application and in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an ironingmachine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig; 2 is afront elevational view partly in section of the machine"shown in Fig. 1, the motor being emitted. a

Fig. 3 is an end elevation partly broken away and partly in sectionshowing the driving connections for the feeding .element orroller. y

Fig. 4 is a front elevation partly in secs terial therebetween. 'arealsoso mounted or shoe 22 is en Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view onan en.

larged scale showing the driving connections between the motor shaft andthe roller shaft.

1 Fig. 8 is an elevational view on an en the rack and [P1111011connect1on for moving the roller. into enlarged scale showing gagementwith the ironing element.

Fig. 9 shows in perspective one of the end brackets for supporting theroller shaft,

this bracket also having formed thereon the is a detail elevationat viewsliow- I rack for moving the roller toward the ironing element, and

Fig. v10 illustrates in elevation a mountof my ironing machine upon afolding platform whereby .it may be folded into a cabinet. y 1

Briefly stated the objects of the invention above outlined are attainedin the embodiment of the invention illustrated by providing operativedriving connections between the motor and the feeding element andfurther by providing yieldable means connected I to the feeding elementor rollenfor moving the roller bodily toward the ironing ele:

ment or shoe upon the rotation of the roller.

' Means is also provided for automatically and immediately separatingthe ironing elements upon the stopping of. the feed of ma- The ironingelements as to leave them free at their ends whereby material mayoverlap thereby enabling the operator -to iron material wider than thelength ofthe ironing elements by ironing successive widths of thematerial. I

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters of referencedesignatecorrespondv ing parts, I have shown an ironing machine comprising framemembers 20 connected by longitudinal brace rods 21', the members 20ironing element shape. ported in. any, suitable manner by the verticalportions 23 of the mem "The ironing element 22 may be being angular inmay overlap the roller 24 and tricity, gas or steam and these differentelemengs ma be used interchangeably, if desire The feeding elem'ent orroller 24 is supported at its ends by brackets 25 and 26, these bracketsbeing recessed as shown at 27 to receive the overlapping material. Thebrackets are secured in any suitable manner as by screws 28 to the framemembers 20. As shown in Figs. 1 and 9 the free ends of the brackets areofiset laterally from the remaining portions of the brackets and supportthe ends 29 and 30 of the roller shaft in slots 31 whereby the shaft maymove iateraliy in a manner hereinafter described. From the showing,particularly in Fig. 2, it will be noted that the ends of the bracketssupporting the roller shaft are disposed within the periphery of theroller and do not overlap this peripheryv and because of this thematerial being fed through the machine ends of the roller and shoe. Thisis particularly advantageous since it permits the operator to ironsuccessive widths of a piece, the total width of which is much greaterthan the length of the ironing elements or the width of the machine.

In order to support the overlapping ends of the material, I haveprovided troughs or pans 31 and 32, these troughs being preferablyformed integral with a supporting and gui ing member 33 which extendsfrom the bottom of the ironing element or shoe substantially to thefront of the machine. 'By means, ofthe supporting member 33, thematerial being ironed will be guided and fed back to the front of themachine where it may be easily and readily handled by the operator.

table or supporting member 34 is secured in any suitable manner to theframe members 20, this table being partly supported by the portions 35of the brackets 25 and 26. As shown in Fig. 3 the table extends over apart of the top of the feeding guides the material to the Z The drivingmechanism for the feeding roller Will nowbe described. A. motor 36 is suported inanv suitable manner from the table 34 and if desired bysuitable braces carried by the frame members 201 The motor 36 ispreferablv electrical and lead wires 37 and 38 may be connected to anysuitable source of power and acontrolling switch 39' is secured to theunder side of the table 34 for controlling the motor. 1

shown in Fig. 4 the motor shaft 39 is connected through a worm 40 andworm gear 41 to a sha 42. The latter shaft is splined as shown at 43 toa shaft 44 and this'shaft is connected through a worm 45 and worm gear46 to one end of the feed roller shaft 29. am 45 and 46 are enclosed ina casmg 47. s shown in Figs. 3- and 7 the shafts roller.

therefore, of the troughs 31 and 32 4:

42 and 44 telescope and a casing 47' extends over the telescopingportions of the shafts. The drivin connections just described are alsoprefera iy enclosed, the gearing at the motor end being enclosed bycasings 48 and 49 and the gearing -at the roller end being enclosed by acasing 47.

From the above description, it. will be noted that'when the motor isstarted the roller will be rotated. I

I will next describe the, means for automatically moving the feedingelement or roller into operative relation with the ironing element uponthe rotation of the roller. Each end of the roller is recessed as shownat 50 and a pinion 51 rotatably mounted on the shaft 29 is provided witha flanged portion 52 positioned in the recessed portion 50 of theroller. A ring or disc of suitable frictional material 53 is positionedbetween the flange 52 and the recessed portion 50 and a spring 54resiliently presses the pinion and flange against the portion 50 therebycommunicating the rotational movement of the roller to the pinion.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8 the brackets 25 and 26 are provided withoffset portions 55, each of which has formed on its upper surface a rack56 and the pinions 51 mesh with the racks 56.

As shown in Fig. 2, the bracket 25 at the left hand end of the roll hasa wider space outside the offset portion 55 to provide suificient spaceto receive the gears 45 and The movement of the feeding roller intooperative position will now be described. As the motor is started andthe roller is driven in the manner already defined, the pinions 51 willbe rotated, being drivenfrictionally by the rolier. As these pinions arerotated they will travel on the racks 56 in a direction toward'theironing element or shoe 22, it being remembered that the ends of theroller shaft 29 are mountedin slots 31. This frictional drivingconnection between the roller and the pinions 51 will cause a constantpressure of the roller against the ironing element whereby the materialwill be fed between these elements and ironed.

In machines of this character unless means .is provided for immediatelyseparating the feeding and the ironin elements when the motor stops orwhen t e feed roller ceases to rotate, thematerial being ironed will beburned or scorcheci. The means for accomplishin this separation of theelements in the em 0 iment of the inventionillustrated is shownparticularly in Fig. 8 and comprises a pair of spring pressed plungers57 mounted respectively at the two ends of the roller shaft and adaptedto force the shaft away from the ironing eiement upon the stopping ofthe rotation of the feed roller.

When the feed roller stops rotatingthe fricvertical portions 23 of theframe members 20. A stop 63 is carried by each portion 23 for limitingthe movement of the arms in a direction away from the roller. The shaft62 carries an arm 64 slotted at its free end as shown at 65. A pin orbutton 66 is carried by a snap switch 67 and extends through the slot inthe arm 64. The switch 67 is so constructed that the movement of thebutton 66 by the arm 64 will make and break the circuit. As shown in thefull line position in Fig. 6 the circuit is closed and when the rod andarms are moved to the dotted line position the circuit will be openedand the motor will be stopped. It will be noted that the rod 60 extendsthroughout the length of the roller 24 and is positioned between theedge of the table 34. and the ironing element 22. This rod is alsodisposed close enough to the surface of the feed roller so that shouldthe fingers or hands of the operator move with theroller they willengage the rod and shut off the-'.

bar before they reach the ironing element and are pressed between thefeeding roller. and this element. The motor may be started and stoppedtherefore, by throwing the rod 60 forward or backward, as well as by thecontrol switch 39.

' In Fig.2 a snap switch 68 is shown for controlling the heatingelement. and a thermometer or heat indicator 69 issuitably connected tothe heating element and indicates the temperature thereof.

In Fig. 10 the ironing machine above illustrated and described is shownas carried by support 70 hinged as shown at 71 to a cabinet 72. A spring73 engages the hinge 71 and the support 70 and tends to swing thissupport outwardly. A locking-member, 74 shown in the form ofapin isprovided for retaining the ironing machine within the cabinet and asthis pin is pulled out the machine wlllswmg upwardly to the dotted lineposition. r

From the above description, it will -be seen that a machine has beenprovided having the ironing elements so [supported that a greater widthof material may be threaded therethrough than the length of the ironingelements and. furtherthat means has been provided for automaticallymoving the feed= ing'element intooperative position'upo'n the rotationthereof and that the provision has been made for automaticall moving thefeeding element away from t e ironing element upon the stopping of thefeed. The machine also embodies means for supporting and guiding theoverlapping material whereby this material is returned to the front ofthe machine where it can. be easily handled by the operator.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been described andillustrated, it will be understood that the invention is capable ofmodification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangementof thejcooperating parts may be made without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, motive power, and meansconnected to said motive power-and to the roller in all positionsthereof for rotating and rolling said roller bodily on its axis towardthe shoe upon the application of power thereto.

2. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, means for rotating saidroller and means including a member ogerativel connected to andoperative by sai roller or moving the roller toward said shoe.

3. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, means for rotating saidroller and means including a friction clutch operatively connected toand operative by said roller for moving said roller toward said shoe.

4.. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, means for rotating saidroller and means including a pinion driven by said roller, and a rackengaged by said pinion for moving said roller toward said shoe when theroller is rotated.

5. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe,

"means for rotating said roller, and means including a member having aslip driving connection. driven by said roller for moving said rollervtoward the shoe and retaining the roller in engagement therewith whenthe roller is rotated.

6. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, means connected to saidroller for rotating the roller, a pinion driven by said means through aslip driving connection, and a stationary rack engaged by said pinionand adapted to cause said pinion to move the roller toward the shoe uponthe rotation of the pinion.

7. In an ironing machine, a shaft, aroller carried thereby, drivingmeans connected to said shaft, a shoe, a pinion, a frictiondriving'connection between; said shaft and said-'- pinion, and astationary rack meshing with said'pinion. 7 v k 8." Iman ironingmach1ne,aroller, a shoe, means'for supportingtheroller in a mannerstrudtedtherebv permitting the material to extend freely through theends thereof, and

wherebv the ends'fofthc roller will be unobmeans for supporting andguiding material extending beyond the ends of the roller as saidmaterial passes around the roller.

9. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, means for supporting theroller in a manner whereby the ends of the roller at the active portionthereof will be unobstructed thereby permitting the material to extendfreely through and beyond the ends thereof, and means for supporting andguiding to the front of the machine material extending beyond the endsof the roller.

10. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, means for supporting theroller in a manner whereby the ends of the ironing and feeding portionof the roller will be unobstructed thereby permitting the material toextend freely through the ends thereof, and grooved members forsupporting and guiding to the'front of the machine material extendingbeyond the ends of the roller.

11. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, means for supporting theroller in a manner whereby the ends of the active portion of the rollerwill be unobstructed there by permitting the material to extend freelythrough the ends thereof, and troughs disposed at the ends of the rollerfor supporting and guidin to the front of the machine malilterial exteng beyond the ends of the ro er.

12. An ironing machine comprising a roller, a shoe, means for supportingand guiding material from the front of the machine to the roller, andmeans extending substantially to the delivery edge of the shoe forreceiving, supporting and guiding material from the roller and shoe tothe front of the machine.

13. An ironing machine comprising a roller, a shoe, means for supportingand guiding material from the front of the machine to the roller, andmeans extending beyond the ends of the roller and substantially to thedelivery edge of the shoe for supporting and guiding material from theroller and shoe to the front of the machine.

14. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, means for rotating saidroller, operative connections whereby the rotation of said roller willcause the roller to move toward i said shoe, and means for moving saidrolleraway from said shoe when said roller ceasesto rotate.

15. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, means for rotating saidroller, operative connections where y the rotation of said roller willcause the roller to move toward said shoe, and automatically operablemeans for movin said roller away from said shoe when sai roller ceasesto rotate.

16. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, motive power for rotatingthe roller, means connected to said motive power for. automaticallymoving the roller into operative roller only at the non-f relation withthe shoe when the motive power is started, and means for moving saidroller away from said shoe when the motive power is stopped.

17. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, means for rotating saidroller, operative connection whereby the rotation of said roller willcause the roller to move toward said shoe, and resiliently actuatedmeans for moving said roller away from said shoe when said roller ceasesto rotate.

18. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, 0. motor, a shaft. drivenby said motor, a second shaft telescoping with said first shaft andoperatively connected to said roller and means operative by the rotationof the roller for moving said roller toward said shoe.

19. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, a motor, a shaft driven bysaid motor, a second shaft telescoping with said first shaft andoperatively connected to said roller, said operative connection betweenthe second shaft and roller including a slip connection and meanscoacting with and operative by the connection between the second shaftand the roller for moving the roller toward the shoe. f

20: In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, means operative by therotation of the roller for moving the roller toward said shoe, a motor,a shaft driven by said motor, a second shaft telescoping with said motordriven shaft and worm gearing between said first shaft and said motorand worm gearing between said second shaft and said roller.

21. In. an ironing machine, a roller, a roller shaft, a supportingbracket therefor permitting transverse and rotatlonal movement of saidshaft, a pinion, slip driving connections between the pinion and saidshaft, a rack carried by said bracket and engaging said pinion, andmeans for driving said shaft.

22. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, motive power for rotatingthe roller, means connected to said motive power for automaticallymoving the roller into operative relation with the shoe when the motivepoweris started, and means for autematically moving said roller awayfrom said shoe when the motive power is stopped.

23. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, means including bracketsfor sup rting the roller at points inside the perip ery thereof, saidbrackets crossm .the ends of the 'ng and non-ironing portions thereofand sfiaoed materially beyond the ends of the ro er whereby theperiphery at the ends of said non-feeding and non-ironing portions ofthe roller will be free from obstruction.

24. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe. means for sup rting theroller in a manner whereby ti: portion of the roller surassess? facecoacting with the shoe to iron the mate rial will be free andunobstructed at and beyond the ends thereof and means for supporting andguiding the material overa lapping the ends of the roller.

25. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, means for suspending theroller in a manner whereby the ends of the working portions of theroller are free from obstruction and driving'connections for the roller,

' the driving connections being so located with reference to thecircumference of the roller as not to interfere with the passage of theoverlapping ends of the material that is being ironed and means forsupporting and guiding the overlapping ends of the material as thematerial passes around the roller and for guiding the material to thefront of the machine.

26. In anironing machine,a roller, a shoe,

means for supporting the roller in a manner whereby the ends of theroller, and the ends of the shoe are entirely free from obstruction attheir entire ironing surfaces,

that is being ironed and its overlapping ends, and means for guiding themate-' rialfrom the front of the machine to the front of the machinewithout obstruction at the ironing portions of the ends of either theroller or the shoe.

27. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, said roller coacting withsaid shoe for a portion of its circumference to iron and feed thematerial, and means for supporting said roller at that section of theroller which is not used for ironing and feeding,

thereby permitting the free passage, at the ends of the ironing, means,of the overlapping part of the material that is being ironed and meansextending substantially to the point of delivery of the material fromthe roller for supporting the material and for guiding the material andthe overlapping 4 ends thereof to the front of the machine.

28. In an ironing machine a shoe, afeeding and ironing roller coactingtherewith and movable toward and away from the shoe, means forsupporting the roller, power nections between said operating means andsaid roller, said roller supporting means being so located and arrangedwith respect to the roller that the ends of the roller are freefromobstruction from the supporting means and said driving connectionsbeing' located opposite to the. non-feeding, nonironing portions only ofthe roller.

29. In an ironing machine, a roller, a heating and ironing elementadapted to coact therewith, means for supporting the roller, soconstructed and arranged with reference to said'roller that no part ofsaid means will be disposedin alignment with 5 the active ironing andfeeding portion of permitting the free passage .of the materialoperating means for the roller, driving con-' theme to the front of themachme.

saidroller and a support extending beneath the roller and having atrough at each end thereof for supporting and guiding overlapping endsof the material around the roller and to the front of the machine.

30. In an ironing machine, a, roller, a heating and ironing elementadapted to coact therewith, means disposed in alignment with theinactive portion of the-roller for supporting the roller, so constructedand ar-.7U ranged with reference to said roller that no part of saidmeans will be disposed in alignment with the active ironing and feedingportion of said roller and a support extending beneath the roller andhaving a trough ea.

wardly across said element and supporting means for'said roller crossingthe ends of the roller only" at the inactive side thereof and at pointsspaced materially beyond the ends of the roller thereby leaving the endsat opposite side and top and bottom portions of the roller, free andunobstructed for the 190 passage of overlapping material.

33. In an ironing machine, a shoe, a roller forfeeding the materialdownwardly across the shoe and means including brackets for suspendingsaid roller, said brackets crossing the ends of the roller only at theup-. wardly traveling, inactive portion thereof and at points spacedmaterially beyond the ends of the roller.:

34. In an ironing machine, a shoe aroller 1 for feeding the materialdownwardly across the shoe and means including brackets for suspendingsaid roller, said brackets crossing the'ends of the roller only at theup wardly traveling, inactive portion thereof 1 and at points spacedmaterially beyond the ends of the roller, and means for receiving thematerial as it leaves the shoe and conductin the materialandoverlappingend's no 35. In an ironing machine, a heating element, aroller for feeding material downwardl across said element and supportingand riving'means for said roller crossing the ends of the roller only atthe upwardly traveling portion thereof and at points spaced materiallybeyond the ends of the roller. v

36. In an ironing machine, a heatm element, a roller for feeding materiament, a roller for feeding material ted to coact' roller being; movabletoward and away from the heating downwardly across said element,supporting means for'said roller crossing the ends of the roller only atthe upwardly traveling portion ethereof and at points spaced materiallybeyond the ends of the roller, and means for receiving and guidingthe*overlap ing ends of the material to the front of t e machine. 1 f r37. In an ironing machine, a'heating element, a rcller for feedingmaterial that is wider than the roller or the heatin element into themachine and downward y across said heating element, supporting anddriving means for said roller'crossing the ends of the roller only atthe inactive rtions thereof permitting the freefpassage into and deliveof the overlapping material at the ends 5 the reller and heatlng elementwithout wrinkling or folding.

38. In an ironing machine, a heating ele; across the heating element andads therewith to iron material, sai

element, power; operating means for the roller and connections betweensaid ineans and.the roller crossing the end of the roller only at anon-feeding, non-ironing portion thereof. 5 I Y 39. In an ironingmachine, a heating element, a roller for feeding material across theheating element and adapted to enact therewith to iron material, saidroller being movable toward and away from the heat ln element, meansoperating at both ends 0 the roller to press the reller against theheatin element, power operating means for the ro ler, and connectionsbetween said means and the roller crossing an end of the roller only ata non-feeding, non-ironing portion thereof.

40. In an ironing machine, a roller, a shoe, means fer movablysupporting said roller, means for fixedly supporting said shoe, drivingconnections for the roller, said N terial to said roller and ,'theroller for supporting means or driving 'connecare disposed opposite theactive iron-1 and feeding portions of the. shoe or' 41. In an ironingmachine, a roller, a V

heating lement ada ted to coact therewith, supporting means ortheroller, driving mechanism for the roller, means for supporting thematerial and iding the maeating element, and means for receiving thematerial from the roller and heating element and uiding the material tothe front of the machine the whoie of said driving mechanismbeinglocated below the path of the material to the roller and heatingelement and above the path of the material from the roller and heatinelement. 7'

42. in ironing machine com rising heating element, a roller adapt 'tocoact therew th, means operative at both ends of pressing the rolleragainst the heating element, supporting means for the roller,supportingmeans for the heating element, said supportinglmeans being so,1

er and heating the supperting located at an end of the ro element thatHQ parts 'of means are disposed opposite the ironing' portions of theroller and heating element, permitting one edge of the material beingironed to overlap that end of the roller and heating element and meanspositioned below and extending beyond that end of the reller forreceiving the material from the roller and heating element and farsupporting and guiding the material and the overlapping edge thereof tothe front of the machine.

In witness whereof, I' have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of June,1921.

POTTER.

